Untitled Chapter

"Hahaha! Funny!"

"If I could meet with Master Xu, a true genius, and learn something from him, it would be an incredible experience."

"Master Xu has to go the capital for his exams next year. What time does he have to share our idle pleasures? He's probably hard at work reading right now!"

"Ah! I came here hoping to see Master Xu's talent in action. I'm afraid it's a big disappointment."

"At least we didn't come all this way for nothing. We've seen some beautiful nighttime scenery."

They had no idea that the person they were discussing was actually listening to their conversation.

"Brother Xu, you see, your fame is at its peak now!" Wen Yuan said with a smile.

"Brother Wen, you're joking. I don't want this to happen, but it's inevitable." Xu Wenwu said.

"I see there are quite a few young ladies here too. Probably all because of you, Brother Xu." Wen Yuan observed.

Xu Wenwu shook his head, feeling helpless, without responding.

"So, Brother Xu, how do you think they compare to my sister?" Wen Yuan asked.

Xu Wenwu paused, his mind drifting to Wen Die's face—her grace like the luminous moon in autumn, her beauty akin to a lotus emerging from clear waters, leaving him slightly reverent in thought.

Then he simply uttered: "They can't compare!" And continued walking ahead.

Wen Yuan quickly caught up, his face breaking into a wide grin, no longer in conversation but simply enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

The next day, Magistrate Wen and Madam Wen left Huamen Town, returning to Qingyun City. Only Wen Yuan and his sister remained, staying with the Xu family.

Xujia Village was as lively as ever, with tourists arriving one after another. It was bustling like a small market.

But there was one new thing in the village: trash bins. After just one day, the ground had been covered with oily wrappers from snacks. It wasn't the tourists' fault, they just didn't know where to throw them.

The village patrol team had to clean it all up. The village chief and the old man had decided to place wooden barrels every fifty steps along the roads as trash bins. Each day, someone would gather up the trash and burn it in an open field.

With these bins, the ground really was much cleaner. The village chief even came over to praise the old man's clever idea.

The old man was delighted by this praise all day.

"Look at you." Said Mrs. Wang: "So happy about a bit of praise. Wasn't it Qibao who gave you the idea? You're just stealing your granddaughter's credit."

"Grandma, what credit?" Said Qibao. "I was just helping the village solve a problem. I shouldn't take the credit. Grandpa deserves it most."

The old man looked proud: "Did you hear that, old woman?"

Mrs. The old man looked proud. "Did you hear that, old woman?"

......

Inside the Imperial Palace...

"Your Majesty, I think Feng Wan is dignified, talented and beautiful, and is most suitable to be the eldest prince's consort to Feiyu. In addition, Ma Yushi's daughter Ma Manyun is well-educated and well-mannered, and she is also good-looking. She can be made a concubine. When the time comes, the two of them can marry into the Eldest Prince's Mansion together, so as to continue the royal family's lineage and expand its branches."

In a side chamber of the Imperial Bedchamber, the Emperor sat at his writing desk, practicing calligraphy.

Hearing the Queen's words, he looked up and gave her a mild glance: "Since you've already decided, what are you asking us for?"

The Queen's face froze momentarily before she forced a bright smile: "Your Majesty, please don't say such things! Fei Yu is our son, and his marriage is a matter that naturally requires your opinion, as the Emperor and his father!" With that, she reached out to take hold of the Emperor's arm.

The Emperor subtly evaded her touch. The Queen's hand stiffened for a moment before recovering its relaxed appearance.

"Hasn't Fei Yu been visiting the Prime Minister's estate rather frequently these past few days?" she asked.

The Emperor turned his attention to his calligraphy scrolls, skimming through them as if the Queen were merely commenting on the Prime Minister's impressive literary prowess.

"It's only natural for young people to develop feelings for each other." The Queen continued: "They can't bear to be separated for even a day. These children are clearly meant to be together, aren't they? We should support them." She concluded, turning back to the Emperor.

The Emperor said: "Fei Yu is sixteen now and an adult. It's time for him to move out of the palace and establish his own residence."

"What kind of title does His Majesty plan to confer on Fei Yu?" Asked the Imperial Consort (Queen).

"I haven't decided yet. You may leave for now! I'll tell you when I have an answer." The Emperor's eyes remained fixed on the large characters he had written.

"Yes, your subject will withdraw!" After performing a courteous bow, the Imperial Consort led her maidservants and eunuchs back to her private quarters.

"An Dehai, go to Shoukang Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty." A eunuch holding a horsetail whisk at the door bowed in response.

"Your son pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"

"Is there anything the Emperor wants here at this time?" asked the Empress Dowager.

The Emperor cast aside his robes and sat on a soft couch: "Mother, what do you think about that decree left by our forebears? Is it a blessing or a curse?"

The Empress Dowager sighed: "If those loyal to the throne are in question, such a decree might indeed serve to bind hearts. However, should any be ambitious, it could prove far more harmful than beneficial. Given your question, I presume the Prime Minister's Estate has been causing trouble once again?"

"Moments ago, the Imperial Consort sought my guidance." The Emperor replied: "Her intention is to have Feiyu take Lan Fengwan as his primary consort and Ma Manyun, daughter of Ma Xueguang, as a secondary consort. It seems they've already discussed this with the Prime Minister's Estate."

The Empress Dowager said: "The Lan family is too greedy. Lan Xianxian is now the Queen. Do they still want the Lan family to have two Queens? Although Ma Xueguang is a second-rank official, he is the Supervisor of All Officials and has real power."

The Emperor said: "Whether Feiyu is worthy of this position still needs to be discussed."

The Empress Dowager continued: "We've always followed these rules in the imperial family: favor the legitimate heir over the eldest, and favor ability over lineage. If one of the princes is more capable than the legitimate heir, they can inherit the throne. Your Majesty, while you're still young and your branch doesn't have as many heirs as previous Emperors, you must plan ahead."

Ye Fenglan remained silent.

The Empress Dowager sighed: "I know you rarely enter the imperial harem because of that accident years ago. Qingrou's death still haunts you, doesn't it? Jingchen has never believed his mother's death was an accident."

A storm flashed in Ye Fenglan's eyes. After a pause, he said slowly: "Qingrou's death was no accident."

Mother and son were silent for a moment.

Then Ye Fenglan said: "Chen'er hasn't been around lately. I bet he's off somewhere, trying to keep it from me again."

The Empress Dowager replied: "This child has a calm temper. It's not necessarily a bad thing to let him go out for a walk. Chen'er has always wanted to go to the army for training, but he is still young, so I have never agreed."

Ye Fenglan said: "Although Chen'er is only thirteen years old this year, his Kung Fu is still very good. Perhaps it is not a bad idea to let him go and practice. There is no war happening at the moment, so it won't be dangerous if he just goes and practices. Chen'er doesn't like to interact with outsiders. If he goes to the army and meets more people, maybe he will change."

The Empress Dowager considered this for a moment before sighing: "Forget it, forget it."

Ye Fenglan said: "I've heard that Jinyu often comes over to talk with Mother, and this child has finally figured it out, no longer locking himself in his own palace, only he still avoids me when he sees me."

The Empress Dowager said: Jinyu is quite sensitive. He's afraid you'll dislike him because of the dark spots on his face, so he keeps hiding from you. Really, he longs for your closeness."

Ye Fenglan said: "Ah! He's my own flesh and blood, how could I dislike him?" 

The Empress Dowager smiled: "But this child gets along quite well with Chen'er and listens to him too."

Ye Fenglan said: "Regardless of how it happened, that's certainly a good thing."

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded in agreement.